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GreenTouch Presents Large-Scale Antenna System Proof of ConceptFeb 04, 2011 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- The GreenTouch Consortium, a global research initiative dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of information and communications technology (ICT) networks by a factor of 1,000, announced that it detailed the accomplishments of its first eight months of operation and demonstrated a Large-Scale Antenna System proof of concept, the first of many technologies it is working to deliver. According to a release, the group said the antenna system offers the potential for tremendous energy savings thanks to its novel wireless transmission techniques. Presented at a GreenTouch event, the Large-Scale Antenna System proof of concept demonstrated that radiated power consumption could be significantly reduced as the number of antenna elements is increased. For example, an antenna array comprising 100 elements would transmit only one percent of the energy transmitted by a single antenna, for the same quality of service. In addition to this technology demonstration, GreenTouch noted that the event included a series of presentations from industry experts who detailed significant milestones GreenTouch has reached since its launch last year and highlighted some of the more than two dozen research projects that are either already in progress or under consideration. These milestones included: doubling membership and attracting the participation of scientists from across the industry and around the world; establishing ongoing working groups focused on several key technology areas; and earning awards from Global Telecoms Business and the World Economic Forum. "The areas of the network where GreenTouch is focusing its research efforts are those that have clear potential for achieving significant energy efficiencies, and evidence that the consortium has made some impressive strides in a short period of time," said Vernon Turner, Senior VP of Enterprise Infrastructure, Consumer, Network, Telecom and Sustainability research groups, at IDC. "What makes this demonstration of initial technology such a promising step forward is that it credibly addresses the sweet spot where the amount of data transmitted is maximized as the energy required for that transmission is reduced." "When we launched the GreenTouch Consortium last year, we set ambitious goals for ourselves," said Gee Rittenhouse, GreenTouch Consortium chairman and VP of research at Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs. "This initial technology demonstration and the research projects we've undertaken show that GreenTouch is on track to meet its objectives and position us squarely on the cutting edge of sustainable technology development." The company reported that besides Rittenhouse, other GreenTouch technology visionaries who spoke at today's event included Executive Board Member Claude Monney, Senior Consultant, Swisscom, who reviewed the group's research strategy; and Executive Board Member and Network Committee Chair Rod Tucker, Laureate Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, who provided an update on the consortium's research pipeline and its key Network Committee projects. Representative projects include: -Utilizing energy-efficient electronic integration of packet router functions combined with silicon photonic technologies to minimize losses in electronic interconnections and in the optical and electronic interfaces used in high-speed optical transport networks -Generating energy efficiencies in delivery of high-bandwidth services through a dynamic wavelength capability that can more closely align the energy requirements of a given service with the energy needed to support it -Reducing energy consumption in wireless access networks without compromising coverage by using separate data and signaling networks to facilitate "on-demand" rather than "always on" device functionality Special guest speaker Luis Neves, Chairman of the Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSi) and VP of Corporate Responsibility at Deutsche Telekom, provided commentary in the area of ICT networks energy efficiencies and how ICT-driven sustainability is of benefit to everyone. More Information: greentouch.org. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |